The New York Yankees and right-handed pitcher Lou Trivino have reached an agreement, according to Andy Martino of SNY. The specific details of the deal are not yet known, as it is pending a physical examination. Greg Joyce of The New York Post previously reported that Trivino was present at the team’s Spring Training facilities.
Trivino, who is 32 years old, was acquired by the Yankees in a trade during the 2022 season, along with Frankie Montas. He performed exceptionally well in a Yankees uniform, recording a 1.66 earned run average in 25 appearances after the trade. Although his walk rate of 10.8% was slightly high, his strikeout rate of 23.7% was solid, and his ground ball rate of 51.7% was very impressive.
The Yankees decided to keep Trivino for the 2023 season by agreeing to a $4.1 million salary, thus avoiding arbitration. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to an elbow sprain that he suffered during Spring Training. He began the year on the injured list and ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery in May.
For the 2024 season, the Yankees had the option to retain Trivino through arbitration, with projections estimating a salary of $4.1 million, despite him missing the entire 2023 campaign. However, the Yankees chose not to tender him a contract, making him a free agent.
Now, it appears that the Yankees will bring Trivino back, likely at a reduced price. It is unclear whether he has secured a guaranteed spot on the roster or if he has settled for a minor league contract. The Yankees can now transfer injured players to the 60-day injured list, as they have already done with Scott Effross. Jasson Domínguez, who is currently undergoing Tommy John rehab and is expected to be out until the summer, could also be moved to the 60-day injured list when the Yankees need to free up a roster spot.
If Trivino is on the 40-man roster, he could also be transferred to the 60-day injured list. However, given that Tommy John rehab typically takes 14 months or longer, it is unlikely that he will be able to rejoin the team until the summer. Nevertheless, once he is healthy, he could provide a significant boost to the team’s bullpen. The Yankees have shown a preference for pitchers who induce ground balls, and Trivino certainly fits that profile. Throughout his career, he has recorded a 3.86 ERA, a 24.5% strikeout rate, a 10.6% walk rate, and a 47.4% ground ball rate in 285 appearances.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com